Complicated / Prolonged Grief

“Your love was like the dawn

Brightening over our lives
Awakening beneath the dark
A futher adventure of colour.

Though your days here were brief,
Your spirit was live, awake, complete.”

~ John O’Donohue

Healing Persistent Pain: Specialized Complicated Grief Counselling

An individual with prolonged grief disorder (PGD) may experience intense longing for the person who has died and/or feelings of being preoccupied by thoughts of the death of that person. In children and adolescents, the preoccupation may focus on the circumstances of the death. Additionally, the surviving individual may experience feelings of being in shock or disbelief about the death, of insecurity and uncertainty about where they fit into a world without the deceased person, which often undermines their sense of belonging, meaning, purpose, and self in the survivorship experience.

If you or a loved one are experiencing grief that feels overwhelmingly intense, unending, and disabling, you may be suffering from Complicated Grief, a condition now formally recognised as Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD).

This is not a sign of weakness or a failure to “get over it.” It is a specific, treatable condition. For those seeking specialized treatment, Complicated Grief Counselling Singapore offers the professional, structured support needed to address this specific, treatable condition.

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What is Complicated / Prolonged Grief Disorder (PGD)?

Grief is expected to be intense (acute) immediately after a loss, with symptoms gradually softening over time as you adapt. For most people, this process allows life to slowly be redefined and resumed.

Complicated Grief/PGD occurs when the acute, intense symptoms of grief persist indefinitely—lasting for at least one year after the loss for adults, and at least six months for children and adolescents—to a degree that is severe enough to cause significant problems and interfere with daily functioning.

This is not just deep sadness; it is a profound disruption of one’s ability to engage with life, work, and relationships. The person’s grief is required to last longer than might be expected based on social, cultural, or religious norms.

Recognising the Signs: When Grief Becomes Disabling

If your emotional state has remained cripplingly intense long after the loss, it may be time to seek help. We look for a collection of persistent, disabling symptoms that occur nearly every day for at least the last month:

Persistent Preoccupation and Disbelief

An overwhelming, persistent yearning or longing for the deceased person.
A profound sense of disbelief about the death or an inability to accept the painful reality that the person is gone.
Being intensely preoccupied with thoughts or images of the deceased or the circumstances of the death.

Emotional and Identity Distress

Identity disruption, such as feeling as though a part of you has died or a diminished sense of self.
Feelings of intense emotional pain, such as overwhelming anger, bitterness, or sorrow, related to the death.
A pervasive feeling that life is meaningless or empty without the deceased person.
Emotional numbness, or a marked absence or reduction of emotional experience.

Difficulty Reintegrating into Life

Significant difficulty with reintegration, such as problems engaging with friends, pursuing interests, or making plans for the future.
Excessive avoidance of reminders of the loss, or, conversely, a constant need to keep reminders close (e.g., constantly smelling their clothes, watching old videos).
Intense loneliness or feeling detached from others.

Important Warning Sign:

Thoughts of self-harm or suicide are a serious red flag and require immediate professional intervention.

Why Complicated Grief Counselling is Essential

This type of profound, persistent grief is extremely difficult to manage on your own. It is a specialised form of psychological distress, and certain factors can increase the risk of developing it, such as a history of mood or anxiety disorders, or losing someone to a sudden or unnatural death.

You do not need to struggle through this overwhelming pain indefinitely.

Specialised, evidence-based treatment exists and is highly effective for Complicated/Prolonged Grief Disorder. Our role as senior psychotherapists is to provide a structured, compassionate pathway to help you:

Understand and resolve the complications that have prevented the natural grieving process from progressing.
Process the pain of the loss.
Find a path to see a future with purpose and potential happiness that honours the person who died while allowing you to live fully.

Regaining a sense of normalcy and finding a way to integrate the loss into your ongoing life is possible.

Take the First Step Towards Healing With Complicated Grief Counselling

If the pain of your loss continues to dominate your life months or years later, preventing you from functioning, working, or finding any joy, please reach out. We are here to help you navigate this complex journey.

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